Brecken (5y9m) is on the verge of reading. His interest in letters and words has just exploded over the past year and a half or so. This is the son, who, when three years old could barely sit still long enough for a quick reading of But Not the Hippopotamus by Sandra Boynton, much less anything by Dr. Seuss.

His most recent accomplishment was writing the whole alphabet. He found a word game book, and decided that one of the crosswords was where he would write the alphabet. He wrote down all the letters he knew (through E), then he went to the fridge, picked the correct magnet letter, and wrote it in the corresponding box. It probably took him a good 30 minutes. Towards the end, he needed help on a couple of the letters that have gotten lost from our magnet set.

Every so often I get tempted to break out How to Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons. This is how many of my siblings learned to read, and its a really great book. I’m just completely fascinated with the process. I have no doubt he’d zoom through the book, and probably love it. But he’s only 5. There is no reason I can not sit back, and follow the organic process as he learns to read of his own desire and inclination.

Its not quite spring. Check that, where I live, its not ANYWHERE near spring yet. But, because I WISH it were, I am posting this series of photos I took last “spring”, which happened to be the early part of June.

We discovered the eggs on June 9th.

On June 13th:

June 14th:

June 18th:

I wish I could say we got to watch these darling little birds grow up and fledge their nest, but that is not the case. June 2010 was an incredibly rainy month up here in the Idaho panhandle. We got a horrible torrential rain storm, complete with thrashing winds, which are rare, here in the northwest. I went to check on the robins first thing the next day. Their nest had tipped during the night, leaving two babies on the ground. One was barely alive, and I put it back in its nest, after I straightened it back upright.

June 19th:

Unfortunately, another torrential overnight downpour occurred, and the mother abandoned her nest. There were two barely surviving chicks, they were cold and wet. I brought them inside, and did the best I could to nurse them to health. We fed them worms, softened chick starter, and kept them warming under a heat lamp. In spite of our best efforts, and much to my childrens sadness, the little birds did not make it.

We really enjoyed the short time we had observing their little lives though.

To put the world right in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must first put the family in order; to put the family in order, we must first cultivate our personal life; we must first set our hearts right.
~Confucius

The other day Brecken (5) wanted me to play the Heffalump song. Great, except I had NO IDEA what he was talking about. I asked him to sing some of it for me and he said “Dont Heffalump, dont Heffalump”, needless to say that did not help. I told him next time he heard the song, to tell me about it.

It came on the radio today. What song is it you ask? Katie Perry’s Teenage Dream

In an attempt to get in shape and regain my hormonal balance this year, I am going grain free, or at least striving for that the majority of the time. I made this recipe this week, adapted from the original grain version. It turned out TASTY! Serve with heavy cream poured over it, or eat it straight. Either way, its a great paleo/primal snack or meal!

Grain Free Maple Nut Granola

1/2 c sunflower seeds

1/2 c pumpkin seeds (the ones with the shells removed!)

1/4 c sesame seeds

1 c almonds, processed in the food processor until about a quarter of their normal size

1/2 c cashews

1/2 c hazelnuts, also processed in the food processor

2 c unsweetened coconut flakes

1/4 c EACH pure maple syrup, coconut oil, and nut butter of choice

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp sea salt

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Mix all dry ingredients in a large bowl. Heat on medium stirring until thoroughly combined the syrup, oil, and nut butter. Add vanilla. Pour over dry ingredients, mix well. Put in a 9×13 pan, checking and stirring it every 15 minutes until its a nice golden brown…and smells HEAVENLY!